Subj: Consequences of Falling ch. 29
Date: 7/25/01 2:11:46 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Nicole

Cottage, 4:00 AM

Constance trudged through the snow, heart heavy from the events of the past hour. She had gotten Julia's address book in the hopes of getting hold of Chris or Sabrina. It was the only thing she could wrangle from her as she sobbed in Quentin's arms. Constance knew that she was of no use to them. She had not known the girl and could not understand their grief. She knew that she had to put herself to good use and this was the only thing she could think of. She had not wanted to go back into Collinwood, afraid that at the sight of Josef, she fly into a fury and wake the house. Besides, she needed to check on Angelique.

When no one answered her knock, Constance invited herself inside the cottage. She found Angelique sitting by the fire, her eyes plastered on the roaring flames as she took swigs from an almost emptied wine bottle. "I didn't think it was wise to conjure while drunk?"

"Can't I have a bout of self pity?"

Constance took a seat next to Angelique and took her into her arms, letting her begin to unload sobs that rivaled Julia's. "You're going to be all right. Nothing's going to happen to you. You will survive."

"But why can't I fall in love with someone without so much baggage," complained Angelique. "If it's not someone who can't sort out his feelings it's someone who can't get his life in order. What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing's wrong with you." Constance pulled away and asked, "Did you go back to Josef?" Angelique nodded. "Why? You know he's trouble. Why did you go back to him?"

"He came to me," explained Angelique. "He actually apologized for the way he treated me. I thought it might be good to be with him. It wouldn't be like it was when it was the three of us, but it might be good."

"There will never be a three of us again."

"I know. You've permanently taken yourself out of that equation, haven't you?"

"Yes. And now someone's trying to take it all away from me." Constance fell into Angelique and let her hold her as she wept. "I can't believe that Quentin might go furry again. Would Beth lie about such a thing? I need to know."

Angelique shook her head. "Beth often put herself on the line for Quentin. She would not lie about such a thing."

"Oh God. And now there's this child." Constance suddenly remembered why she was there. "Can I use your phone?"

"Be my guest."

Constance rose languidly and walked toward the phone, hoping to compose herself before she talked to whomever was on the other line. She knew that she probably wouldn't get Chris or Sabrina but she had to try. "Hello. May I speak with Chris Jennings or Sabrina Stuart."

"No mam, their long gone from here. Chris left almost two years ago and Sabrina and that baby left a little less than a year ago. It's a shame. I'm surprised that people would leave their families in this day and age, but I suppose things never change."

Constance wanted to speak up for Chris but knew it was pointless. No one would believe the truth. "I suppose your right sir. But can you tell me if they left any information on a way for people to get in touch with them?"

"I'm sorry mam. Wish I could be more of a help."

"So am I. Thanks anyway." When Constance hung up, she noticed Quentin standing in the doorway. He looked weary and she could see the dried tear streams staining his face. "Their gone. They didn't leave forwarding address or such. We can't get in touch with them."

"That's to be expected." Quentin took a seat on the sofa, burying his face in his hands to muffle a few strangled sobs. "How can we explain this to them. People associate incubus attacks with nuns who want to explain away unwanted pregnancies and maintain their purity. No one takes such things seriously."

"I suppose your right." Constance took a seat next to Quentin and took him in her arms, hoping that he would unload the pain she could see being his eyes. He did not, choosing to straighten up and wipe away the few tears that had fallen. "I suppose I'm just used to such things. I've lived with this all my life."

Quentin nodded. "Can we just leave."

Constance looked over to Angelique, who only nodded and drunkenly shooed them away. Constance helped Quentin to his feet and they left. While they were walking back, she could see the darkness creeping back into his face. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"No I'm not all right." Quentin fell to his knees, covering his face in his hands and once again breaking into tears. Constance knelt next to him and held him. She could not stand to see this happening. It took all of her self control not to break into tears herself. "This is all my fault," sobbed Quentin. "None of this would have happened if it had not been for me."

Constance did not know what to tell him. Technically, he was right: Quentin was the cause of the curse that affected his family. But Constance knew the regret he felt for his first wife's murder. She knew how much he mourned the actions of this past life. But she could not tell him that she was wrong. "It's all right," she chose to say. "Everything will work out."

"How?" demanded Quentin. "Who is going to make this right?"

"I don't know. But we do have time. It will be years before this boy goes through even one transformation. We have time to figure something out to save him."

"But what about Chris? God, I can't imagine what he must be feeling after what happened to Amy."

"He probably can't forgive himself," said Constance. She took his face into her hands and said, "But there's nothing we can do about it. What's done is done."

"The child never had a chance," whispered Quentin.

"But she gets another chance. It's a cycle and no one ever really get out. She'll live again and hopefully she'll be given a family that's not so...sordid."

"I understand."

"Does it help any?" Quentin smiled weakly and nodded. "Good! This is something you should worry about."

"But I can't help it. I keep thinking about how wrong it is that I get to live as far from my curse as possible while they have to deal with it firsthand. They did nothing wrong and they have to live with my mistake. It's not fair."

Now might have been the time to tell Quentin about what she had learned. But she could not do it. He was so sad now. This information would only bring him more pain. Constance would not be able to watch him weep again tonight. For one more night, she wanted to act as if at least one thing was still as it had been before they had returned to Collinwood. So she decided not to tell him. "No it's not fair," she whispered as she kissed his cheek. "But one day, they'll be free of this too. One day you'll make it up to them."

"Do you really believe that I can help them?"

"Of course you can. You've helped me, you just don't understand it," cooed Constance, kissing him once again but this time on the lips. "I think you can move mountains if you want to. You just need to figure out how."

Quentin smiled as he laid his head on her shoulder. "I'm lucky to have you here. I don't think I could find the strength if you weren't here to remind me that there is a future."

"My pleasure to do it." Constance knew that they could not sit there any longer. If they mused any more on the events of this night, she would break down and tell him everything. Quentin had hope now, that was all that mattered. They could deal with hopeless at a later date. "Now lets leave. We need rest. Everything will seem clearer in the morning."

"I'm sure you're right," mumbled Quentin as he stood and offered her his hand.

"Yeah," she whispered mournfully. "I'm sure of it."

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